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Mom's Cancer

Each year, approximately 1.5 million people in the United States and Canada are diagnosed with cancer. This is one family's story. When Brian Fies's mother was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer, he and his two sisters struggled with the effects of her illness and her ongoing recovery from treatment. Brian processed the experience in his journal, which took the form of words and pictures. The story that came to be known as Mom's Cancer first gained notice on the internet. It was posted anonymously, with the intention of sharing information and insights gained from his family's experience. Word of Brain's website spread, until it found its way to Abrams and, ultimately, a book contract. Since then his story has been nominated for the comic book industry's highest honour; an Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic, which is a category that was created with his work in mind.

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Originally a web comic, Mom’s Cancer documents the subtile to profound effects cancer can have -not only for the afflicted- but for the family, as well. Brian Fies effectively conveys, through black and white illustrations, the metamorphosis of his mom (before and after chemo). Other cancer comics I would recommend include: “Cancer Made me a Shallower Person”, by Miriam Engelberg and “Our Cancer Year”, by Harvey Pekar.